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Carroll wrote that after what started as a friendly encounter with Trump at Bergdorf Goodman in 1995 or 1996, the real estate mogul pushed her up against a dressing room wall, unzipped his pants and forced himself on her.
Accuser E. Jean Carroll on the cover New York magazine.
Carroll said that in a "colossal struggle," she pushed him off and ran from the store.
In his statement, Trump called the accusation "fake news" and said there was no evidence.
"No pictures? No surveillance? No video? No reports? No sales attendants around??" I would like to thank Bergdorf Goodman for confirming they have no video footage of any such incident, because it never happened," he said.
The Trump Organisation, which Trump still owns, did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press, which has not independently verified Carroll's account.
The Bergdorf Goodman store in New York City.Credit:AP
Carroll did not immediately return a call for comment.
Carroll, now 75, wrote in her book excerpt on the magazine's website that Trump recognised her as "that advice lady" as he arrived at Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue just as she was leaving.
She said Trump invited her to help him buy a present for an unidentified "girl" and she agreed.
Carroll said that after Trump suggested a purchase of lingerie or underwear, he grabbed a bodysuit and urged Carroll to try it on.
US President Donald Trump. Credit:AP
After some joking around about which one of them should try it on, Trump led Carroll to a dressing room, where, she alleged, Trump pushed her against a wall, pulled down her underpants and assaulted her in an episode that lasted under three minutes.
Carrol said there were no attendants in the dressing room area and she did not file a report with the New York Police Department.
She said she did, however, tell two journalist friends, one of whom urged her to contact the police while the other advised her to keep quiet, citing Trump's access to lawyers.
New York magazine said it confirmed the accounts of Carroll's friends but it did not identify either individual by name.
Trump was caught on tape in 2005 boasting of grabbing women by their genitals and kissing them without permission.
When the tape became public weeks before the November 2016 general election, Trump said he never acted in any of the ways described on the tape, and described it as just "locker-room talk".
AP